Madeleine McCann: Kate And Gerry’s Blood, Threat And Tears
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
THE SUN front page: “KATE’S AGONY – CONFESS & YOU’RE OUT IN A YEAR.”
“Deal of blood, threat and tears.” Kate McCann is being interviewed by police. This is a “highly-charged confrontation, Portuguese officers citing forensic evidence told the GP she would receive a jail sentence of between two and three years if she signed a confession.”
Kate McCann is “horrified”. Says she: “How dare you?”
A source tells the paper: “The police were trying to get Kate to say she had amnesia or was in shock or had a breakdown. They said if she signed the confession she’d serve a year and that her husband would not be charged and could go home. It was effectively emotional blackmail.”
“SHOCKED” Gerry McCann has been named as a formal suspect.
THE SUN SAYS: “But the allegations made yesterday against Madeleine’s distraught mother Kate are astonishing and, in places, farcical. A suspicious page of the Bible left open? A call to a priest on the day of Maddie’s disappearance? Not exactly a smoking gun.”
Do all crimes involve a smoking gun?
The Sun concludes: “The Sun desperately wants justice for Maddie. But the greatest pity is that she is the one person who seems to have been forgotten in this mess of incompetence.”
And the Press continue to watch the parents.
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “MADELEINE: DEATH ON MUM’S BIBLE.”
THE WORLD’S GREATEST NEWSPAPER writes of “THE DAY THE JEERING STARTED”.
“Just two days ago Kate McCann, 39, was regarded almost universally as a victim who had suffered unimaginable agony. Families everywhere shared her heartbreak at losing her beautiful daughter. But it was clear yesterday, as the GP arrived to be formally named as a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance, that much of that sympathy has now gone.”
The crowd outside the police station – 400-strong – goes into a “frenzy” when Kate McCann arrives. “There were whistles, then jeers and boos before some in the crowd began to shout insults. ‘Whore… daughter of a whore,’ some yelled in Portuguese.”
The Express translates.
A local man says: “They will find this more and more because in Portugal harming a child is the worst thing…The Portuguese people took them to their hearts and now we feel cheated. It will not be nice in Portugal for them now.”
Kate is “cool and collected”.
DAILY MAIL front page: “THE ACCUSED. Portuguese police’s staggering grilling of Madeleine mother.
• Why was her blood in your car?
• Did you drug her that night?
• Confess and get just two years.”
DAILY STAR front page: “YOU KILLED MADDIE.”
DAILY MIRROR front page: “MADELEINE SENSATION. We have found her blood in the boot of your hire car.. DID YOU KILL HER BY ACCIDENT?” This is “what police asked Kate McCann during 16-hour grilling”.
THE GUARDIAN front page: “Mother, victim…suspect: police target Kate McCann.”
THE TELEGRAPH: “Kate and Gerry McCann named as suspects,” says the headline.
“Mr McCann stared straight ahead as his suspect status was announced and refused to answer questions from awaiting journalists. A crowd which had been attending a concert in the town square earlier listened to the announcement and several people gasped audibly.”
In “Villagers back Madeleine McCann’s parents”, the paper journeys to Rothey, Leicestershire, the McCanns’ home town. Michelle Canilleri, who lives in Rothley, shares with the world: “I can’t believe it. This is such a shock. They have got the wrong people. No way in the world would either Kate or Gerry harm any of their children.”
THE INDEPENDENT front page: “FROM ANGUISHED PARENT, TO GRIEVING MOTHER, TO SUSPECT.”
“Shortly before 11am, Mrs McCann’s spokeswoman, Justine McGuinness, revealed that the 39-year-old GP was being made an arguida – official suspect – in the case. And then she uttered the six short words which will be inconceivable to some who have followed this case and a confirmation of long-held suspicions to others. ‘Kate fears she will be charged,’ Ms McGuinness said.”
THE TIMES front page: A picture of the McCanns meeting the Pope.
Madeleine McCann The Public Spectacle
September 8th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Although this is what most of us suspected all along, I don’t think that I, for one can explain how I feel right now. I am utterly shocked!
All I can think of at the moment is that poor little beautiful girl. This is horrendous!
September 8th, 2007 at 8:40 am
This is just crazy. The Portuguese police know that they could never get a prosecution - even in Portugal - unless they get a confession. They are pressurising two wholly innocent people to admit to a murder for which there’s no evidence
September 8th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Julie, hear, hear. And I hope you’re wrong just as I’m sure you do too.
Why?
September 8th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Holme, this case is far too widely publicised for them to even attempt something like that. They have the evidence they need. I think all they’re waiting for now is the final interviews with the other 4 friends from Britain, and then they WILL make arrests! I am almost convinced of this. Oh, I feel so utterly gutted, almost as if I had known that poor child.
September 8th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Christoph - Are you asking why the police are pressurising the McCanns to confess?
Clearly they cannot solve the case. They have no evidence. They cannot find Madeleine. They cannot find her body. So the easiest way to “resolve” the case - and get it wrapped up is to nail the innocent parents. Once Kate is in jail - having confessed to a “mental breakdown” and “amnesia” (how stupid can they be?)then the case is out of the headlines, off the tv news, and Praia de Luz can get back to making money from tourism.
September 8th, 2007 at 8:48 am
Christoph, I was hoping all along that my assumptions were totally incorrect. I would have been all too glad to chomp up every word I’ve written here if I was wrong. But I feared the worst almost from the start, as did many others. I just keep asking myself WHY? WHY? There was surely another way out of the tragic events of that night! Admitting that they had been horribly wrong in their judgement of leaving the poor children alone would have been a start for them, but I’m afraid the cover-up exploded out of all proportions. However, I think by the time it was realised that a terrible error of judgement was made it was far too late.
September 8th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Julie - where’s the body?
September 8th, 2007 at 8:51 am
I fear the parents are true sociopaths.
Incidentally, these people are often friendly and charming. Their smiles prove nothing — for or against.
September 8th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Morning all
Hopefully today, the speculation will focus on known facts. A lot was said yesterday about Madeline being sedated, and possibly accidently overdosed. There is no evidence that Madeline was sedated at any time.
As far as the blood in the car is concerned, that is rubbish. The speculation is that the same car was used by the ‘Exeter’ man who was a friend of Murats, and allowed the McCanns to use there car. The Mccanns then hired the same car 25 days after Madeline dissappeared.
Where did this link come from because I have seen nothing official about it.
A top journalist said yesterday night that that the McCanns could not have moved a body after 3rd May if they did kill her, because their every move has been followed. They knew nothing of the local area, yet supposed found a place to store the body without it being in a place where any smells would attract others. They then went back and removed the body, and relocated it to a more secure resting place.
It makes no sense whatsoever.
I believe the McCanns had something to do with her disappearence, but the critical time, between 6.30 and 8.30pm on May 3rd doesn’t seem to be the subject of much enquiry.
Why did the McCanns have a meal with Madeline but not the twins?
Did anyone see Madeline after 6.30?
What did the McCanns do in that 2 hours?
Why did they go out and leave the door unlocked. To my knowledge they have not given a reason for doing so?
Why is there a difference in what bar staff say and what the McCanns say?
September 8th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Some of the nicest people I’ve ever known are sociopathic weirdos. And you’d never know it except for observing for a long, long time.
Even then, Holme would never see it.